Australia appoints woman to lead its army for the first time
SYDNEY — Australia on Monday said a woman would lead its army for the first time in history, as part of a reshuffle of...
China urges restraint over US blockade of Strait of Hormuz, backs talks
BEIJING — China urged calm and restraint by all sides on Monday, following US President Donald Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz...
Swedish government boosts energy, fuel subsidies in election year spring budget
STOCKHOLM — Sweden’s government will cut fuel taxes and hike electricity subsidies in its spring mini-budget, it said on Monday, as it strives to ease...
Trump calls Pope Leo ‘terrible’ in unusual, direct attack on Church leader
WASHINGTON/ROME — US President Donald Trump forcefully criticized Pope Leo late on Sunday in an unusual, direct attack on the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic...
Hungary’s conservative icon Orban defeated by center-right opposition
BUDAPEST — Hungary's veteran nationalist leader Viktor Orban lost power to the upstart center-right Tisza party in Sunday's national election after 16 years in...
US military to block ships from Iranian ports after talks yield no agreement
MIAMI/ISLAMABAD — President Donald Trump said on Sunday the US Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks...
Pope Leo to begin 10-day Africa tour on mission to spotlight continent’s needs
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo begins an ambitious 10-day tour of four countries in Africa on Monday urging global leaders to address needs on...
Peru’s Fujimori takes early lead in crowded presidential race, exit polls show
LIMA — Peruvians headed to the polls on Sunday to vote for a new president and members of Congress, with early signals pointing to...
US-Iran peace talks end without agreement; Vance leaves Pakistan
ISLAMABAD — The US and Iran failed to reach an agreement to end their war despite lengthy talks that concluded on Sunday in the...
Tankers exit Gulf via Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran talks begin
SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR — Three supertankers fully laden with oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, shipping data showed, in what appeared to...
China should abandon threats against Taiwan, US diplomat says
TAIPEI — The top US diplomat in Taiwan said China should abandon its threats and military pressure against Taiwan and talk to the island’s...
New Russian space launch vehicle undergoing final tests, top official says
A NEW Russian launch vehicle, Soyuz-5, is undergoing its final tests and is “absolutely ready” for use in space projects, Russia’s top space official...